Robotics

Capital Conference 2019

David Trussell, Director of STEM Activities

The

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UIL Robotics: the early

years?

What is UIL Roboticsall about anyway…?u Background

u Program structure and rules

u Competition specifics

u How to participate

u Robotics in your school community

Development Timeline

u Following extensive research and deliberation…

u Pilot authorization October 2014

u Program launch about a year later

u 2 ½ years as a pilot

u Approval for official adoption in October 2017, effective for the 2018-2019 school year

Why Robotics?

u Limitations of the traditional “Spring Meet” structureu Scheduling

u Format

u Appeal

u Different types of contests to open UIL participation to more studentsu Followed successful launch of Film and Congressional Debate

u Growth for UIL STEM activities

u Encourage growth of Robotics in schools

Considerations

u Robotics already well-established in Texas

u Multiple organizations, many UIL schools already participating

u Where would UIL fit? How could we add value?

u Do we build a new contest ourselves, or do we work within the existing landscape?

Program Structure

u UIL Robotics is a collaboration

u Two partner organizations

Participating in UIL Robotics means…

u Registering a team and participating with BEST or FIRSTu Or both – your school can compete in both divisions

u UIL Robotics – FIRST Division includes two distinct contests-FRC and FTC

u Other Robotics programsu While not part of UIL Robotics, competitions such as VEX or TCEA

robotics are also options your school can consider

u More schools are including multiple competition platforms in their robotics programs

Program Structure - Qualifiers

u Like other new contests, Robotics does not fit the traditional “Spring Meet” structureu Congress, Theatrical Design, Film

u No UIL district or regional contests

u Qualification to the UIL Robotics State Championships is based on your team’s scores in FIRST or BEST qualifier meets

Program Structure –State Championshipsu The UIL State Championships are invitationalu Invitations are based on performance in those qualifier meets

plus consideration of the number of competing teams in a given location

u Points/rankings systems from Robotics organizationsu UIL collaboration on specifications and priorities for advancement

u The number of slots available is based on the number of qualifier meets and participating teams, plus what the venue and schedule will allow

u Waiting lists are maintained

Competition Season - BEST

u Runs entirely in the fall

u Kickoff events in early September

u Six-week build season

u Practice days and qualifier meets in October through early November

u UIL State Championships (and Texas BEST Regional) in early December

Competition Season - FIRST

u FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) kickoff in early Septemberu Open build season

u Qualifier meets December-February

u UIL State Championships in the spring

u FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) kickoff in early Januaryu Six week build season (then bag and tag)

u Qualifier meets late February-March

u UIL State Championships in early April

Who Makes the Rules?

u UIL rules determine team eligibility to compete for UIL Championships and specify championship criteria

u UIL Robotics Handbook

u FIRST and BEST rules determine how the contests are run - contest structure, judging, scoring, etc.

Team Composition and Student Eligibilityu To be eligible for UIL honors, teams must be:

u High school-based

u Have a majority of students in grades 9-12

u High school-based teams that include some middle school students (composite teams) are eligible for UIL state championships

u Teams that include students from multiple high schools (combined teams) are NOT eligible for UIL state championships

Team Composition

u Teams that do not meet the criteria for UIL eligibility can continue to participate with FIRST or BEST

u Non-UIL teams (home school teams, club-based teams, etc.) are not eligible to receive UIL awards or championships, but can receive awards from FIRST or BEST and advance in those organizational structures

u Also applies for middle school based teams

Robotics and UIL Classifications

u Robotics is not split into conferences 1A-6A

u BEST Division and FTC in the FIRST Division:

u Two competition groups and two state champions: small school (1A-4A) and large school (5A-6A)

u FRC uses a single competition group

u Further divisional splits will be evaluated and phased in based on participation

Concurrent Scheduling

u A UIL Championship and a BEST/FIRST Championship in a single eventu Two scoring tracks

u BEST and FIRST are independent organizations that have their own rules and guidelinesu Non-UIL teams

u Large-scale Robotics events are complex

u Reduce travel and loss of school time

As An Official Contest…u Robotics receives points toward overall Academics State

Championshipsu 1st place = 20 points; 2nd = 16 pts.; 3rd = 12 pts.; 4th = 10 pts.

(When placement is determined by elimination bracket, non-advancing semifinalists split 3rd and 4th place points)

u No district or regional points

u Lone Star Cup pointsu State 1st place – 6 points; 2nd place – 4 points; 3rd place – 2 points;

State championship berth – 1 point

u TILF eligibilityu Students on teams that finish in the top 10 for their competition

group at the state championships

Local considerations

u Policies for which students receive letters or letter jackets

u Policies concerning teacher compensation (stipends paid to coaches, etc.)

u Policies on use of facilities, transportation, etc.

Participation in a Nutshell

u If possible, begin planning at least one school year before you want to start your program

u Register a team

u Get connected with local competition groups

u Build your robot

u Compete in FIRST or BEST qualifier meets

u Invites to UIL State Championships based on qualifier meet performance

Robotics In Your School

u Potential to be a program, not just a contestu What makes a program?

u Ties to curriculum

u Dedicated funding, facilities, personnel

u Year-round student engagement

u Multiple platforms for competition

u Engagement of the larger school community

u Reach new groups of studentsu Build a cultureu Think of other programs at your school – band, theatre,

speech/debate, athletics

Resources

u Teacher training workshopsu UIL Capital Conference

u Competition-specific workshops

u Robotics organizationsu BEST of Texas (bestoftexasrobotics.org)

u FIRST in Texas (firstintexas.org)

u Networking and mentors

Competition Events

u Events are free to attend

u See BEST and FIRST websites for qualifier meets in your area

u UIL Robotics State Championships for 2019-2020:

u BEST Division – Dec. 5-7, 2019 – Comerica Center (formerly Dr Pepper Arena) in Frisco

u FIRST Division u Details for 2020 are currently being finalized

Information

David Trussell, UIL Director of STEM Activities

robotics@uiltexas.org

www.uiltexas.org/academics/stem/robotics

(512) 471-5883